sister stories

Phyllis McCracken, SSJ, was born in Meadville, PA, to Robert and Pauline Snyder McCracken. After graduating from Franklin High School in Franklin, PA, she attended Spencer School of Nursing and Villa Maria College and earned a Diploma RN and BSN degree. She also received an MS in Nursing Services Administration from Boston University. She entered…

Mary Rita Kuhn, SSJ 70-year Jubilee Encouragement to do something special during Lent from her 10th-grade religion teacher led a young girl to attend daily Mass as often as she could. Today, Sr. Mary Rita Kuhn credits that prayer time and the examples set by the Sisters of St. Joseph to help her discern her…

Sister Mary Rachael McGuire, SSJ 80-year Jubilee Sister Mary Rachael recalls going to Mass every morning before her job at the hospital as a young woman and Sister Anna Therese saying to her, “I think you should be a Sister.” The icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help, which hangs in the SSJ chapel, helps…

Stephanie Wagner, SSJ  70-year Jubilee It was during a high school vocation talk when Sr. Stephanie heard, “Some of you are being selfish with God, and He may be calling you.” She discerned that thought for about a year and a half and then realized that she was being called to religious life. She entered…

Geraldine Olon, SSJ 70-year Jubilee Sister Geraldine Olon entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Joseph Parish in Oil City, PA, in 1950 and professed her final vows in 1956. She attended St. Joseph High School in Oil City, PA, and graduated from Villa Maria College in Erie with a BS in elementary education.…

Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ 70-year Jubilee As a student at Villa Maria College, Sr. Mary Claire Kennedy learned of the rich social teachings of the Church and experienced individuals, lay and religious, who lived their faith very seriously. This had a profound effect on her and led her to join the Sisters of St. Joseph.…

Agnes Marie Hughes, SSJ 70-year Jubilee From the time she was about five years old, Sister Agnes Marie knew she wanted to be a sister.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 1950 from her home parish, Immaculate Conception, in Osceola Mills, PA, and professed her final vows in 1956. She…

Marjorie Adams, SSJ Formerly Sister Agatha 70-year Jubilee Sister Marjorie Adams first became acquainted with the religious life while living and studying at Villa Maria College. The spirit and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, exemplified by joy, dedication, and concern for others, led her to discern God’s call and to become a member…

Mary  Herrmann, SSJ formerly Sister Rosemary 60-year Jubilee From her earliest memories, Sister Mary Herrmann felt that she wanted to be a “sister.” After beginning her education with the Sisters of St. Joseph, she knew that meant a Sister of St. Joseph. She eventually recognized it as a call to religious life. She entered the…

“The Lord nudged me in high school.” That’s the way Sister Teresa Marie Bohren, SSJ, describes her call to religious life. “The strongest influence was the example of my parents,” she says. “They did what was right, no matter how hard that was.” A native of Reynoldsville, Sister Teresa Marie entered the Sisters of St.…